October 22, 2015

There are a lot of things I could write about hope -- its power to motivate, its absolute necessity in enduring hardship, its ability to keep our focus on Jesus... but in the end, I thought that the best thing was to go straight to the source and just share my favorite verses about hope. I hope they encourage you the way they've encouraged me and millions of others through the centuries - that great cloud of witnesses and saints that will welcome us home one day...

Romans 5:1-5 (NIV)

Peace and HopeTherefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.

Romans 8:23-25 (NIV)

Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption to sonship, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have? But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.

1 Peter 1:3-5 (NIV)

Praise to God for a Living HopePraise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.

Hebrews 6:17-20 (NIV)

Because God wanted to make the unchanging nature of his purpose very clear to the heirs of what was promised, he confirmed it with an oath. God did this so that, by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled to take hold of the hope set before us may be greatly encouraged. We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain, where our forerunner, Jesus, has entered on our behalf.

Hebrews 11:1 (NIV)

Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.

Psalm 42:5

Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.

Psalm 62:5

Yes, my soul, find rest in God; my hope comes from him.

Psalm 147:11

The Lord delights in those who fear him, who put their hope in his unfailing love.

May you find comfort and strength for facing each day, for conforming your life to the image of Jesus more and more and for making a lasting impact in the world.